The 2007 release Awarapan, starring Emraan Hashmi, earned a distinct place among audiences for its story, music and emotional depth and was later regarded as a cult classic. Nearly 19 years later, its sequel, Awarapan 2, has reached cinemas. The film was released on August 14, 2026, and has received a 2/5 rating.
The film generated considerable interest ahead of its release, with advance bookings receiving a good response despite limited promotion and glimpses. However, the story and screenplay emerge as its biggest shortcomings.
Awarapan 2 follows Shivam Pandit, played by Emraan Hashmi. After the events of the first film, Shivam returns to India and lives in anonymity. During this period, he meets a young girl and names her Alia. Some time later, Alia is adopted by a couple, but the story takes a serious turn when it is revealed that the family is part of a human trafficking gang. After Alia goes missing, Shivam travels to Bangkok to rescue her.
In Bangkok, Shivam joins a gangster named Zorawar. Zorawar is an enemy of Nafisa. Amid this criminal world, Shivam meets Zorawar's sister Zara, and an emotional relationship develops between them. The central story revolves around whether Shivam can find Alia and rescue her safely.
Emraan Hashmi carries much of the film's responsibility. He appears to handle the character in the opening portions, but Shivam's character becomes weaker as the story progresses. In the first Awarapan, Shivam's pain, anger and emotional struggle were central to the narrative. The sequel does not create the same impact.
After the interval, his character is largely confined to being beaten up and getting caught in difficult situations. Hashmi leaves an impression in some scenes, but the charm associated with his character in the first film is not consistently visible.
Disha Patani plays Zara. Although the character is important to the story, she receives limited dialogue and few substantial scenes, making her presence feel restricted. Shabana Azmi also receives limited screen time. Her character is introduced in a highly impactful manner, but the role does not leave the expected impression later in the film.
Puran Gabbi plays the antagonist Zorawar. The character is presented as aggressive and eccentric, but does not succeed in creating a b sense of fear.
The screenplay is the film's biggest problem. Several events take place, but they lack a b emotional purpose. Director Nitin Kakkar appears to rely heavily on memories and references from the earlier film. The presence of old characters and cameos recalls the first Awarapan, but does not strengthen the new story.
The first film gradually established the emotions of its characters. In the sequel, events continue to move forward, but the audience does not connect with them emotionally to the same extent. The number of songs and emotional sequences also affects the pace of the story.
The second half does not generate the expected level of excitement. The film contains action and conflict, but several events appear implausible and childish. The climax is particularly disappointing. The film does not create the impact expected from a major confrontation, and viewers may miss the ber treatment and villains of the first film.
Music was one of Awarapan's biggest strengths. In the sequel, glimpses of the earlier music and lyrics may evoke nostalgia among longtime fans. However, the new songs do not have the same impact. Ve Junoon is comparatively better, while the other songs do not leave a lasting impression.
Viewers who are devoted Emraan Hashmi fans or have a particular connection with the first Awarapan may consider watching the film once. However, those expecting a story, emotional depth and music comparable to the first film may be disappointed.
